On the road for the next few days, researching and rabbiting. In the meantime, a conundrum to keep the new week ticking: Can you reveal a two-worded animal that contains all five vowels once, on top of its closing Y?

(And while you’re thinking along alphabetical lines, here’s Conundrum 2: What two-worded fitting common to all cars contains the five vowels once only, despite being only eight letters long?)

Two more morsels for your consideration, so-so clues this time. I rate both offerings below as well below par. One, do you agree? And two, who can devise the best clue for either answer?

Unconvincing presentation that may have strings attached = PUPPETRY [Telegraph?]

Part of US seen by many on stage = OKLAHOMA [Times crossword book]

And presuming I’m still punching in the Times Tally (stymied last week by wartime slang for a canteen), then here’s the place to join the quest, or share the best of British and other puzzles.

Gargantuan News

Yep, my Gargantuan Book of Words is big & full of words. Not just English but secret codes, Papuan pidgin, Zulu worms, sound FX, funny goldfish, letter origami. You get the drift? It's big. It's fun. And it's out now.

Packed with games, pickles, codes and cheesy puns, Wordburger is your chance to be a champion puzzler in 20 quick bites. Ideal for wordy kids keen to open a new language door, or grown-ups who want to cut their cryptic teeth. Click here.